Cathal Barry“We should be prepared to discuss questions that arise openly” – theologian
Church leaders are being urged to publish responses to a Vatican questionnaire on controversial Church teachings which was distributed recently ahead of the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the family.
Bishops’ conferences are being asked to consult “academic institutions, organisations, lay movements and other ecclesial associations” in preparing their responses, which are due at the Vatican by April 15. The bishops’ responses will serve as the basis for the synod’s working document, to be published by summer.
Theologian Prof. Eamonn Conway told The Irish Catholic there was “no value in seeking to contain the information once it is gathered. We should be prepared to discuss questions that arise openly,” he said.
“In addition to sending the collected information to Rome, I would encourage dioceses to make the most of the gathered information.
“Pope Francis wants the Church at local level to take responsibility for itself to a certain extent. Obviously, there are certain universal questions that need to be dealt with at universal level but there is also a need respond locally,” he said.
Also speaking to this newspaper, Fr Gerry O’Connor of the Association of Catholic Priests called for “total transparency” throughout the entire process.
“I hope the information collected will be shared in some transparent way. I would hope that there will be total transparency and that there would be no efforts to soften any concerns that arise,” he said.
Information
“The most important thing is that, when the information is gathered and collated, the salient points are shared with the public. There has to be some sort of summary of the key points that emerge in the process,” he said.
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin confirmed to this newspaper that the document had been sent to all parish councils and religious communities in his diocese with a request to respond.
“Within parishes, there is a real need to consult with married couples in particular. It’s very important that people living the pastoral realities are involved in the process,” he said.